Folding chair



Jan. 26, 1932. c, MARSON v 1,842,793

FOLDING CHAIR Filed Aug. 27, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR WITNBS: ATTORNEY Jam. 26, 1932. 3, j MARSON 1,842,793

'FOLDING CHAIR Filed Aug. 27, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOR HEY Patented Jan. 26, 1932 UNETED STATES CLIFFORD J'. MARSON, OF CAMBRIDGE CITY, INDIANA FOLDING CHAIR Application filed August 27, 1930. Serial No. 478,256.

The object of this invention is to provide a folding chair simple in character, light in weight, and through the use of a minimum number of parts, so constructed as to not only i maintain the fullest strength of the individual members, but when completely assembled,

produces a chair unusually strong and comfortable, occupying small space when folded,

easily operated and will not tip forwardly nor collapse.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, tobe hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawin s and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawg ings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the chair in open position.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the chair in closed position.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the chair in open position.

Figure 41 is a rear view of the chair in folded position.

' Figure 5 is a sectional view through the rear part of the seat and the rear legs, show ing the sliding connection between the seat and rear legs.

In these drawings, the numerals 1 and 2 r indicate the two long legs, the upper portions of which form the side elements or standards of the pivotal back, and the lower portions form the front legs. These members are of the same size and shape throughout and they are spaced apart parallel with each other and rigidly connected at the upper ends with the top back rail 3 and at the lower ends with the rung ft.

R The numerals and 6 indicate the short or rear legs pivoted near the back edge and slightly above the center to the long legs by means of rivets 7. The lower ends of the members 5 and 6 are spaced apart and rigidly connected by the rung 8. The outside di mensions of the members 5 and 6 being identically the same as the inside dimensions of the members 1 and 2, the members 5 and 6 can be turned to parallel position with the members 1 and 2, as shown in Figure 4, or they may also be turned outwardly to an angular position, as shown in Figure 1.

The numeral 9 indicates the swinging back composed of a frame and slats, with its side members 10 extending slightly above the top member 11. A pivotal rod 12 passes through so these extended ends and through the long legs 1 and 2 and has its ends riveted to the outer surfaces of the long legs, as shown at 13. This rod passes through the long legs rearwardly of the longitudinal centers thereof. Side members 10 are slightly cut away at their lower ends, as shown at 14L, so that when the panel back is assembled at its pivotal point 13, the lower end of the paneled back will swing freely between the upper ends of the short legs and between the inner surfaces of the upper portions of the long legs. A looped strap 15 is mounted in a slight depression formed in the rear face of the lower P end of each of the side members 10, this strap having its loop so formed that when fastened to the member 10, said loop extends beyond the lower ends of the member 10. These straps are securely mounted in place and flush with the back of the frame through the use of rivets 16. A rod 17 is pivoted in the loops of the straps 15. The ends of the rod are bent to form the cranks 18 and the extremities of said cranks enter holes formed in the short legs. The rod has an eccentric throw of approximately one inch and of the proper width to pass freely between the inner surfaces of the upper ends of the short legs. However, it is to be understood that the distance of the eccentric throw may be varied to meet other requirements, such as the installation of a longer or shorter back not herein mentioned.

By this arrangement, it will be seen that when the short legs are moved inwardly to a parallel position with the long legs, the swinging back automatically takes a parallel position between the upper parts of the long legs and the extreme upper ends of the short legs, as shown in Figure 2.

The framed-in paneled seat is shown at 19 and said seat is pivoted to the long legs by the rod 20 which passes through holes in the side members of the seat frame at points slightly back of the transverse center of the seat and below the centers of the side members, the rod extending below the panels of the seat. The ends of the rod pass through the long legs adjacent the front edges of the legs and are upset to hold the rod in place. The side members of the seat frame are cut away at their rear ends, as shown at 21 to allow the back of the seat to pass freely between the inner surfaces of the short legs. The lower back edge of the seat frame is notched or grooved to receive the fiat bar 22 which is fastened to the seat by rivets 23. This bar is of suflicient length to extend beyond the edges of the seat frame and the extended ends are bent upwardly and extend slightly above the upper surface of the seat frame. Thus the bar is of channel form and serves as a rigid brace for the back of the seat frame. The dimension of the inside of this channel bar is identically the same as the width of the extreme back of the seat frame. Metal channel members 24 are pivoted to the bentup ends of the bar 22. The inside dimensions of these pivotal channel members are identically the same as the dimensions of the short legs and are properly spaced'apart by the bar 22 so that they may slide freely upand flown the central inner portions of the short egs.

It is now plainly seen that when the seat is changed from a horizontalto a vertical position, the sliding channel members 24 pivoted to the ends of the bar 22 slide down the inner central surfaces of the short legs,causing said legs to automatically take a parallel position within the long legs and at the same time the swinging back automatically takes a parallel position between the upper inner surfaces of the long legs and between the inner surfaces of the upper ends of the short legs. On the other hand, when the seat is placed in a horizontal or open position, the sliding channel members 24 slide up the in ner central surface of the short legs, coming to a stop when they contact the pivotal connection of the rod 17 with the short legs, which is so located that when the sliding channel members reach this point, the seat is in its proper sitting position. Likewise, the

short legs take their proper position as well as the swinging back which also automaticaL ly assumes its proper position, all of which is shown in Figure 1.

From the description given above, it will be observed that the distinctive features of my chair are an eccentric controlled swinging back, as well as a securely braced metal pivoted seat, with sliding pivotal channel connection to short legs which permits the use of short legs without grooves, adding materially to their strength.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

hat I claim is 1. A chair of the class described comprising a pair of leg members, each composed of a pair of side pieces and means for holding the side pieces spaced apart, one leg member being shorter than the other with the upper ends of the side pieces of the short leg mem ber pivoted to the inner faces of the side pieces of the long leg member, a back pivot ally arranged between the side pieces of the long leg member adjacent the upper end thereof, a rod rotatably supported at the lower end of the back and having its ends cranked and pivoted in the side pieces of the short leg member, a. slide on each side piece of the short log member, a seat pivoted between the side pieces of the long leg member, a bar fastened to the rear of the seat at the under side thereof and having its ends turned upwardly and pivotally connected with the slides;

2. A chair of the class described comprising a long leg member and a short leg member, each member comprising a pair of side pieces and means for connecting the side pieces together in spaced relation, one of the leg members being shorter than the other,

with the upper ends of the side pieces of the short member pivoted to the inner faces of the side pieces of the long member, a back fitting between the side pieces of the long member, a rod passing through the top part of the back and the side pieces to pivotally support the back from the side pieces adjacent the upper end of the long member, a rod rotatably supported at the lower end of the back and having cranked ends which are pivoted in the inner faces of the side pieces of theshort leg member, channeled slides engaging the side pieces of the short member, a seat, a rod passing through the same in rear of the transverse center thereof and through holes in the side pieces of the long member for pivotally supporting the seat between the side pieces, a flat rod connected with the lower face of the seat at the rear thereofand having its ends turned upwardly and pivoted to the slides.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CLIFFORD J. MARSON. 

